Borgen

Minor Spoilers: Anyone who has seen some of the best ‘Scandi-dramas’ knows they can make for layered storytelling: The Killing, The Bridge, The Protectors, Anna Pihl and Real Humans.

The stories that emerge from Danish and Swedish television may not have all the bravado of Hollywood, but they can be deeply satisfying with fantastic performances. So it is with the latest series to screen on SBS: Borgen.

Last year Borgen won the BAFTA for Best International series, beating The Killing, Modern Family and Australia’s own The Slap.

This is a political drama set in the inner sanctum of Denmark as the country scrambles to elect a new government. Borgen means “The Castle,” nickname of Christiansborg Palace, which houses all three of Denmark’s branches of government: the Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Supreme Court.

There’s no easy way to relate the attributes of this drama without some minor spoilers, because the first episode sets up the premise of the country electing its first female prime minister. But things really kick in from episode two.

Birgitte Nyborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen) is the leader of a party of Moderates as the country heads into an election between the ruling Liberal and the Opposition Labour parties. But a scandal between television journalist Katrine Fønsmark (Birgitte Hjort Sørensen) and a Minister will change all that, as dirty laundry is aired in public in the middle of an election debate. Seemingly disgusted with both sides of government, the public catapults Birgitte and the Moderates into the spotlight creating a rudderless tug of war for a new coalition government.

It’s here, in the second episode, that Birgitte must step up to the plate. The old guard of male politicians throw their weight around with the female Moderate, trying to force her to take a few ministries so that she lends support to their own government. But Birgitte yearns for a more optimistic future for Denmark and even her husband tells her she must take control if she is to lead, not wait to be annointed.

While Denmark’s political system may differ from the Westminster system, it’s impossible to overlook the similarities of a minority government immersed in backroom negotiations for power and recent Australian events. Deals are offered, power is traded, games of bluff are made in the blink of an eye. There are even debates about the number of asylum seekers seeking refuge.

Sidse Babett Knudsen is impressive in the lead role, as a woman of integrity forced to make choices that cause deep inner conflict. It remains to be seen whether she will have to sell-out on her own principles or, indeed, whether absolute power will see her shift from her position as a Moderate. I have a feeling Borgen will make the most of whether women in power can prove to be any more decent than men…

Birgitte Hjort Sørensen as journalist Katrine Fønsmark also drives the drama’s key sub-plot, bringing emotion to a role etched in guilt.

As a Danish drama there’s not much in the way of light relief here, but don’t let that put you off. Borgen is an excellent arthouse offering for those dissatisfied by a diet of flashy American dramas. It’s already in its third season and NBC is planning a remake.

9 Comments:

If Borgen really gets going from the second episode, I’m hooked! That first episode had me engrossed throughout every single second. Can’t wait to see more. Shame it’s on a little late, but I’ll PVR it anyway.

Sorry for naysaying but I think Borgen is pretty dull and not that enlightening about politics. The Pm always makes the ‘right’ choices and things are never as pragmatic and crummy as they are in politics. It is better than a lot of TV, but like my partner said ‘it’s like all the dull bits from the Killing strung together’…

Saw both series on the BBC – absolutely brilliant and (depending on how good series 3 of Sherlock is) very likely the best thing you’ll see on TV this year. Better even than the West Wing. Anyone know why the Danes make such consistently good TV?

Looks good. Thanks for the review, David. Unit One was another Danish series that I enjoyed (starring Mads Mikkelsen, now in Hannibal).

Pertinax, on the bright side, at least they didn’t put it on Monday night with everything else. I’ll have to drop The Following for this but I was prob going to do that anyway (already, it’s a double ep this week and then bumped to 9:51 or whenever, so the writing is on the wall).